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One of San Francisco's best restaurants...

Located in the heart of the Financial District, Aqua serves delicious seafood and decadent desserts in an artful and sophisticated manner.  Winner of the DiRoNa Award of Excellence, it is a very upscale restaurant and is great for business lunches because of its atmosphere and location.  The restaurant décor is a combination of classic ambience, with soft landscape paintings, dim lighting, muted colors, and huge flower arrangements, and modern architecture, with curved ceiling lines and a sandstone floor.  Big mirrors open up the space and make the restaurant feel much larger than it actually is.  These mirrors along with tall ceilings complement the skyscrapers of the Financial District that surround the building.  Soft jazz plays in the background as fleets of friendly but sophisticated (and, at first, a little intimidating) waiters serve works of art rather than food.  Prepare yourself to pay a quite a bit, but just remember – it will be well worth it.

Most tables are dimly lit, making them very sophisticated for a business lunch or elegant for a romantic dinner, but the restaurant also has some tables by the windows, which are brighter and a little more fun.  If you want to have a delicious and fancy meal in a sophisticated yet comfortable atmosphere with some of the best service there is – and are willing to pay the expensive prices – definitely go to Aqua. 

Be sure to make reservations for this popular restaurant, especially during peak hours (lunch and dinner).  While the waiters are very attentive and the service is quick, you should expect a bit of a wait (15 minutes maximum if you have reservations) if you go during busy hours.  However, the bar is a great place to wait, and the restaurant has several plush couches to sit at while your table is being prepared. 

Each dish is artfully prepared and displayed, and while the portions may seem minimalist, the food is so rich and the entire experience is so pleasant that you get your money’s worth.  Don’t expect to get out of the restaurant cheap, either – Aqua is definitely an expensive restaurant.  However, it is well worth the price, and you will find yourself wanting to go back for more.  The restaurant is chic, the waiters are sophisticated, and the food is amazing, yet the atmosphere is still comfortable – the place buzzes with conversation. 

Valet service is available, and it is also close to several BART stations and right in the busy Financial District, making it very accessible.  The waiters are chic yet attentive and friendly (they’ll even explain complicated parts of the menu or distinctive attributes of the food they serve you, or even how to properly eat certain items), and you never have to wait long for service.  Wear nicer clothes (skirt, nice pants, slacks, a blazer, etc.), as most of the patrons are businesspeople and the restaurant is so sophisticated.  Aqua is highly recommended for business lunches, romantic dinners, or even just a fancy (and delicious) outing.

 If you can’t decide what to get, try the tasting menus.

 Business Lunch ($29 per person):

• Albacore Tuna “Ceviche”
• Pacific Swordfish

 Seasonal Tasting Menu – Lunch ($50 per person):

• Tartare of Ahi Tuna
• Seared Diver Scallop
• Seared Artisan Foie Gras
• Alaskan King Salmon
• Warm Chocolate Cake

 Chef’s Tasting Menu – Dinner ($95 per person):

• Tartare of Ahi Tuna
• Lobster Salad
• Seared Artisan Foie Gras
• Alaskan Halibut
• Black Angus Filet
• Meyer Lemon Soufflé and Chocolate Mandarin Cake

 Seasonal Tasting Menu – Dinner ($85 per person):

·        Hamachi

·        “Moules Frites”

·        Sautéed Artisan Foie Gras & Maine Scallop

·        Maine Skate Wing

·        Wild King Salmon

·        Warm Chocolate Cake

 Finish both lunch and dinner off with coffee or tea, because Aqua has a very pleasant atmosphere to sit and talk after eating.

  252 California St.
(between Battery & Front)
San Francisco, CA 94111
phone: 415.956.9662
hours: Monday - Friday (11 am - 2:30 pm & 5:30 - 10 pm), Saturday (5:30 - 10 pm)

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